[Isolation of HIV-1 and its correlation with various HIV-markers in Japan]

In Japan, the isolation rate of HIV-1 has increased in recent years, and has become as high as 36.7% in 1991. In order to evaluate the onset of AIDS, we have collected various HIV markers, which were obtained from surveillance committee of Natural History. These data include a total of 1991 specimens (actual number 556 individuals) from Japanese hemophiliacs and non-hemophiliacs since 1985. The data analysed CDC stage, leucocyte counts, lymphocyte counts, CD4+ cell counts, CD8+ cell counts, CD4/CD8 ratio and immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG, IgM). The results indicate that in HIV-isolation positive patients, leucocyte counts, lymphocyte counts, CD4+ cell counts, CD8+ cell counts and CD4/CD8 ratio were significantly lower than those of HIV-isolation negative patients in both hemophiliacs and non-hemophiliacs. IgA value of the positive patients was significantly higher than that of the negative patients, while the IgM value showed converse results to the IgA, in hemophiliacs only. In general, the difference of each HIV marker in non-hemophiliacs was more conspicuous than those in hemophiliacs.